Shear resistant utility pole and method and apparatus for repairing a broken utility pole

ABSTRACT

A utility pole ( 10 ) includes: a first pole section ( 12 ); a second pole section ( 14 ) separate from the first pole section ( 12 ); and, a spring ( 36 ) joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section ( 12 ) may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section ( 14 ).

FIELD

The present inventive subject matter relates to the support post arts. One particular application is found in conjunction with utility poles, and the specification makes particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present inventive subject matter are also amenable to other like applications.

BACKGROUND

As is known in the art, utility poles and other like support posts (e.g., flag poles, fence posts, mailbox posts, light posts, etc.) are susceptible to damage from a variety of forces. For example, natural forces like high winds have been known to break or otherwise knock over utility poles. Additionally, utility poles or the like may be damaged in a similar manner, e.g., when struck by a moving object such as an automotive vehicle.

Typical prior art approaches for dealing with a damaged or broken utility pole often involve replacing the damaged or broken pole with a new one. It is commonly desired that the new pole stand in the same place as the prior broken pole. For example, after a utility pole has been broken, often a stump or bottom end of the pole remains buried in or otherwise secured to the ground where the pole originally stood. Accordingly, the stump has to be dug-up or otherwise detached and removed from the location. Typically, the stump and the remainder of the broken pole are simply discarded even though each separate piece may be individually intact and/or otherwise structurally sound. As can be appreciated, however, this approach is often a time consuming and/or wasteful process.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an approach for repairing damaged or broken utility poles that is efficient and that does not waste otherwise reusable material. Moreover, it would be desirable to have a utility pole that is in the first instance resistant to damage or breaking.

Accordingly, a new and improved support post and/or a method and apparatus for repairing a broken support post is disclosed that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a utility pole is provided. The utility pole includes: a first pole section; a second pole section separate from the first pole section; and, a spring joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method is provided for repairing a utility pole that has been broken into separate first and second pieces. The method includes: assessing the first and second pieces to determine if they are structurally sound; and, rejoining the first and second pieces together such that the first piece may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second piece.

In accordance with another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for joining together separate first and second support post pieces. The apparatus includes: a first collar adapted to be secured to the first support post piece; a second collar adapted to be secured to the second support post piece; and, a spring connected between the first and second collars such that the first support post piece secured to the first collar may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second support post piece secured to the second collar.

Numerous advantages and benefits of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive subject matter may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting. Further, it is to be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a exemplary utility pole suitable for practicing aspect of the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the utility pole of FIG. 1 after being broken.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for repairing a broken utility pole in accordance with aspects of the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the broken utility pole of FIG. 2 after the broken ends thereof have been smoothed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating pieces of a broken utility pole rejoined together with an exemplary spring assembly embodying aspects of the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a collar used to attach the spring assembly to a piece of a broken utility pole in accordance with aspects of the present inventive subject matter.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a spring assembly suitable for practicing aspects of the present inventive subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For clarity and simplicity, the present specification shall refer to structural and/or functional elements, components and/or features that are commonly known in the art without further detailed explanation as to their configuration or operation except to the extent they have been modified or altered in accordance with and/or to accommodate the embodiment(s) presented herein.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown an undamaged utility pole 10 buried in or otherwise secured to the ground or a base 20. Of course, alternately, the pole 10 is optionally buried in or otherwise secured to any other suitable base, e.g., a sidewalk, roadway, rooftop, etc. Moreover, while reference is made herein to a utility pole, it is appreciated that the element 10 may represent any other type of appropriate support post, e.g., a mailbox post, a fence post, a flag pole, a light post, etc.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown the utility pole 10 after having been damaged. As shown, a top end or upper portion 12 of the utility pole 10 has been broken off or otherwise separated from a bottom end or lower portion of the utility pole 10, identified herein as stump 14. Suitably, as shown, the stump 14 remains buried in or otherwise secured to the base 20.

Optionally, the utility pole 10 is made from wood, metal (e.g., steel aluminum, or other metal or metal alloy), fiberglass or any other suitable material known for constructing utility poles. Suitably, the utility pole 10 is cylindrical in shape (i.e., it has a circular cross-section), but alternately, it may have a square, octagon or any other appropriately shaped cross-section.

With reference to FIG. 3, a flow chart illustrates an exemplary method for fixing the broken utility pole 10 shown in FIG. 2. Suitably, the first step 100 in the method is to assess the pieces 12 and 14 of the pole 10. For example, the assessment is conducted to ensure that the pieces 12 and 14 are individually intact and/or otherwise structurally sound. Presuming that they are intact and/or otherwise sound, then the pieces 12 and 14 can be reused.

As shown in FIG. 2, the broken ends 16 of the utility pole 10 are jagged or rough, as is typically the case when a utility pole is unintentionally broken. Optionally therefore, a second step 110 in repairing the utility pole 10 is to smooth out the jagged broken ends 16. In one suitable embodiment, the jagged or rough broken ends 16 are cut or otherwise removed from the respective pieces of the utility pole 10, e.g., using a saw or other suitable cutting tool, thereby leaving cut ends or otherwise smooth ends 18 as shown in FIG. 4. Optionally, a preserving compound or protective sealant is applied to the cut ends 18 of the utility pole 10 to guard against or inhibit rotting, rusting or other like material degradation on the now exposed ends of the utility pole 10. Of course, if the break is already suitably clean or if the ends are already sufficiently smooth, the end smoothing step 110 may be omitted. Finally, in a next step 120, the upper portion 12 of the utility pole 10 is rejoined to the stump 14 which remains secured to base 20.

With reference to FIG. 5, a spring assembly 30 is used to rejoin the upper portion 12 of the utility pole 10 to the stump 14. As shown, the assembly 30 includes a first collar 32 and a second collar 34 joined together via a spring 36. In one suitable embodiment, the first collar 32, the second collar 34 and the spring 36 are constructed from a metal, e.g., such as steel or another suitable metal or metal alloy. However, the assembly 30 or various elements thereof may alternately be constructed from any suitable material. Optionally, the first collar 32, the second collar 34 and the spring 36 together form a unitary assembly 30. Alternately, they are separate elements joined together respectively, e.g., welded to one another.

Suitably, the spring assembly 30 which is used to rejoin the pieces 12 and 14 is designed and/or tailored for the particular application or type of utility pole 10 being repaired. For example, the first collar 32 is sized and/or shaped to fit snuggly around an outer periphery of the upper portion 12 of the utility pole 10, while the second collar 34 is sized and/or shaped to fit snuggly around an outer periphery of the stump 14. As shown in FIG. 5, optionally the collars 32 and 34 are firmly attached or otherwise secured to their respective pole pieces 12 and 14 with one or more fasteners 38, e.g., bolts, screws, nails, spikes, adhesives or other suitable fasteners.

With reference to FIG. 6, optionally the first collar 32 is arranged as a clamp or compression fitting. Alternately, either one or both of the collars 32 and 34 are optionally so arranged. As shown, a pair of tabs 40 extend radially from the collar 32. Suitably, the tabs 40 are spaced apart from one another forming a gap 42 therebetween. An end of the pole piece to which the collar 32 is being attached or secured is positioned in an opening 44. A closing assembly, e.g., comprising a bolt 52 and a nut 54, is operatively arranged to close, tighten and/or otherwise clamp the collar 32 around the pole piece positioned in the opening 44. As shown, the bolt 52 extends through the tabs 40 with the nut 54 being arranged on an end opposite a head 56 of the bolt 52. Accordingly, tightening of the bolt and/or nut draws or otherwise urges the tabs 40 together, e.g., closing the gap 42, and thereby tightly clamping the collar 32 around the piece of pole positioned in the opening 44. In addition to clamping the collar 32 to the pole piece, the collar 32 is optionally further secured to the pole piece with the fasteners 38, e.g., as shown in FIG. 5.

With reference again to FIG. 5, suitably, the pole pieces 12 and 14 are attached or secured to the spring assembly 30 so that the spring assembly 30 holds the pole pieces 12 and 14 slightly apart from one another, i.e., so that adjacent ends of the respective pole pieces define or otherwise form a gap 60 therebetween. The gap 60 suitably accommodates flexing of the spring 36 without interference from adjacent ends of the pole pieces 12 and 14 butting up or rubbing against one another. Additionally, the gap 60 allows the utility pole 10 to stand as high or nearly as high as it had prior to being broken.

In one suitable embodiment, the spring 36 is constructed and/or otherwise arranged to have a desired amount of stiffness while still being sufficiently flexible and/or resilient. Optionally, the desired combination of stiffness, flexibility and/or resilience is achieved by selecting an appropriate material for construction of the spring 36 and/or forming the spring 36 with a suitable number of coils and/or suitable coil spacing. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the spring 36 is optionally wound or otherwise formed so that the individual coils are immediately adjacent or otherwise abutting one another. Of course, other factors and/or parameters known to affect a spring's stiffness, flexibility and/or resilience may be chosen and/or manipulated to achieve the desired result. Moreover, it is recognized that the stiffness of the spring 36 can be affected by variations in the ambient temperature. Therefore, a compromise stiffness value is optionally selected based upon the temperature range typically experienced by the geographic region in which the assembly 30 is being installed. Alternately or in addition, the spring 36 is formed or constructed from a metal or metal alloy or other material less affected by temperature variations.

Suitably, the stiffness of the spring 36 is slightly lower than the fracture point for the utility pole 10. This eliminates needless flexing or movement of the pole 10 which may, e.g., unduly stress any wires supported thereby, while still allowing the pole 10 to flex or bend rather than break when a force is applied thereto, e.g., from high winds or the like. That is to say, under the application of force to the upper section or piece 12 of the pole 10, the flexibility of the spring 36 permits the upper section or piece 12 to tilt or otherwise move relative to the lower section or stump 14. Suitably, the spring 36 is also sufficiently resilient, so that when the force is no longer applied, the pole piece 12 returns to an upright position, i.e., substantially in-line or parallel with the lower pole section or stump 14.

Notably, the flexibility and/or resilience of the spring 36 provides a number of advantages. For example, as the upper section or piece 12 of the pole 10 tilts in the wind, the surface area of the pole 10 which is normal or perpendicular to the wind is significantly reduced, thus resulting in a significant reduction of the force acting on the pole 10 which could otherwise cause it to fail. Another advantage is realized, for example, in the case of automotive vehicle collisions with the pole 10. That is to say, the flexibility provided by the spring 36 installed in the pole 10 helps to dissipate some of the energy that would otherwise be absorbed by and/or directed into the automotive vehicle, thereby potentially reducing the damage done to the vehicle, or more importantly, to any occupants of the vehicle.

In other applications, the stiffness of the spring 36 is optionally set to other values as desired for the effect or result being sought. For example, in the case of a mailbox post, the spring stiffness is optionally set slightly lower than the deformation point of the mailbox secured to the post. Such an arrangement potentially addresses the damage caused by snowplows or vandals striking the mailbox, insomuch as the mailbox would merely deflect out of the way with the flexing of the spring 36 as a result of the strike rather than be deformed or damaged.

While the above description refers to repairing broken utility poles and the like, it is of course contemplated that the spring assembly 30 is optionally installed in new poles in a similar manner prior to their deployment. In this way, the potential damage or breaking can be avoided in the first place. Additionally, while the present inventive subject matter has been shown herein by example repairing a pole 10 broken into only two pieces 12 and 14, a plurality of spring assemblies 30 may optionally be employed to likewise rejoin or secure together three or more pole pieces as the particular circumstances warrant.

In any event, it is to be appreciated that in connection with the particular exemplary embodiments presented herein certain structural and/or function features are described as being incorporated in defined elements and/or components. However, it is contemplated that these features may, to the same or similar benefit, also likewise be incorporated in other elements and/or components where appropriate. It is also to be appreciated that different aspects of the exemplary embodiments may be selectively employed as appropriate to achieve other alternate embodiments suited for desired applications, the other alternate embodiments thereby realizing the respective advantages of the aspects incorporated therein.

Additionally, it is to be appreciated that certain elements described herein as incorporated together may under suitable circumstances be stand-alone elements or otherwise divided. Similarly, a plurality of particular functions described as being carried out by one particular element may be carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting independently to carry out individual functions, or certain individual functions may be split-up and carried out by a plurality of distinct elements acting in concert. Alternately, some elements or components otherwise described and/or shown herein as distinct from one another may be physically or functionally combined where appropriate.

In short, the present specification has been set forth with reference to preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 

1. A utility pole comprising: a first pole section; a second pole section separate from the first pole section; and, a spring joining the first and second pole sections together such that the first pole section may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second pole section.
 2. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the spring holds the first and second pole sections apart from one another such that adjacent ends of the first and second pole sections form a gap therebetween.
 3. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the spring is part of an assembly that also comprises: a first collar which secures a first end of the spring to the first pole section; and, a second collar which secures a second end of the spring to the second pole section.
 4. The utility pole of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second collars is attached to their respective pole sections with one or more fasteners.
 5. The utility pole of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second collars is attached to their respective pole sections by clamping around an outer periphery thereof.
 6. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein a resilience of the spring returns the first pole section to an upright position substantially in-line with the second pole section when the application of force ceases.
 7. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein a flexibility of the spring is set to permit tilting of the first pole section in response to the application of force just prior to a structural failure of the first pole section.
 8. The utility pole of claim 1, wherein the second pole section is secured to a base.
 9. A method of repairing a utility pole that has been broken into separate first and second pieces, said method comprising: (a) assessing the first and second pieces to determine if they are structurally sound; and, (b) rejoining the first and second pieces together such that the first piece may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second piece.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one end of the first and second pieces where the pole broke is rough, said method further comprising: smoothing out the end.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: applying a coat of protective material to the smoothed out end.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein smoothing out the end comprises: cutting off the rough portion of the end.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the rejoining comprises: holding the first and second pieces spaced apart from one another such that adjacent ends of the first and second pieces form a gap therebetween.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein a spring rejoins the first and second pieces together.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the rejoining comprises: securing a first end of the spring to the first piece of the pole; and, securing a second end of the spring to the second piece of the pole.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the spring is secured to its respective piece of the pole via a collar and the securing comprises: attaching the collar to its respective piece of the pole with one or more fasteners.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first and second ends of the spring is secured to its respective piece of the pole via a collar and the securing comprises: clamping the collar around an outer periphery of its respective piece of the pole.
 18. An apparatus for joining together separate first and second support post pieces, said apparatus comprising: a first collar adapted to be secured to the first support post piece; a second collar adapted to be secured to the second support post piece; and, a spring connected between the first and second collars such that the first support post piece secured to the first collar may, under an application of force thereto, tilt relative to the second support post piece secured to the second collar.
 19. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first collar, the second collar and the spring are formed as a unitary assembly.
 20. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first collar, the second collar and the spring are formed as separate elements welded together. 